107195 Second Lieutenant George Rowland Howson British Army 1st Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regt from:The Cottage, Bare, Morecambe (d.9th April,1917) George Rowland Paget Howson - "Uncle Rolly" worked in the Liverpool and Manchester District Banking Company,later the District Bank Ltd.,in various branches around Lancaster before the Great War.
His father,Robert G.W.Howson,was Manager of the Morecambe branch of the Lancaster Banking Company (which became the District Bank).(He was a great friend of Sir Edward Elgar, who wrote a part song in his memory when he died in 1905).
I am not sure when Rowland went off to the War - having been born in 1886 - he would have been 28 in September 1914 and therefore older than many who joined up. However, I have a postcard of him in uniform taken in May, 1916 at Argues, Pas de Calais.
Another postcard sent to his mother showing two soldiers carrying a metal tub states "My leave has been cancelled. This photo is of the schoolmaster chap and myself as hut orderlies. We have just finished washing up. Yours R."
In his sister's scrapbook (my grandmother),I have the original Post Office Telegram dated 23rd April,1917 from Buckingham Palace stating
"The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Army have sustained by the death of your son in the service of his country. Their majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow. Keeper of the Privy Purse."
Rowland's obituary (probably in the "Lancaster Guardian and the "Morecambe Visitor" - about April 20th,1917)has a photo and states "Information has come to hand that 2nd Lieutenant George Rowland Padgett (should be "Paget")Howson,Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, younger son of the late Mr and Mrs R.G.W.Howson was killed in action on Easter Monday leading his platoon in the attack". (More to follow)
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